AEW Star Considered Retirement Due To Injury

Kota Ibushi has admitted that he thought about retiring due to his injured shoulder.

In 2021, Ibushi was one of the biggest stars in NJPW and one of the favorites to win that year’s G1 Climax tournament. The Golden Star was able to reach the finals of the G1 where he faced off against Kazuchika Okada. However, disaster struck during their bout as Ibushi suffered a shoulder injury while performing a Phoenix Splash, leading to Okada winning by referee stoppage.

Ibushi was on the sidelines for 18 months before returning to action at Bloodsport 9, where he defeated ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey in under 10 minutes. Since then, the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has signed with AEW, where he reunited with Kenny Omega to help him in his war against the Don Callis Family.

AEW Star Kota Ibushi Discusses When He Plans To Retire

Ibsuhi’s next match is set to take place at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s New Year event on January 2nd, where he will face Naomichi Marufuji. Ahead of the bout, he took part in an interview with the promotion’s website and the topic of retirement came up.

“As for that, I’m not sure when it will be over for me either. I’m not the type to set my own time frame, so I want to do as much as I can. But…well…if I can’t do it anymore, if there is no more demand, I think it’s the end.

“If there is no more demand, I ask them to cut me off immediately. I’m the type of person who says that if I find out, I’ll quit immediately. Conversely, Mr. Marufuji is the type who decides. He has five years left. I hope I can play a role in that time.”

Ibsuhi admitted that there was a time when he was out injured that he seriously considered hanging up his boots, explaining that he couldn’t move as well as fans wanted him to. However, instead of retiring, the star has changed his wrestling technique.

“(I thought about retiring because) my shoulder injury was the biggest thing. I can’t move as much as in the past, as everyone wants me to. I have to use different techniques there.

Of course, with my career, I can change things by doing different things, but if someone says, “That’s not what we want to see,” then that’s the end of me. That’s the end of the road for me. So in my case, it could end tomorrow. It could be a year from now, or it could be 10 years from now. I don’t know. When there is no more demand, it’s the end.”

H/T to Fightful for the above translation.